Covid deaths in England may rise as cases in over-55s increase

Experts warn that a rise in Covid infections in the elderly could lead to more deaths and hospital admissions.

The latest study from Imperial College London found that infections were rising in over 55s, with no clear sign of when they will peak.

According to their latest data, the average prevalence of Covid-19 across England stood at 6.4%, based on swabs collected between 9 and 31 March from a random sample of nearly 100,000 people.

The south-west had the highest infection rate at 8.13%, and the lowest at 5.28%), with reliable increases in infections observed in all English regions apart from London.

The prevalence among those 55 and over was estimated at 8.31% on 31 March, which is 20 times higher than the average for that group.

If you see more infections, you would expect to see more severe outcomes, such as hospitalisations and deaths.

We don't know when we will see a peak in the over 55 age group, and that is a particular worry, because those people are at higher risk of severe outcomes.

The team identified eight cases of the coronaviruses, which can occur when a person is exposed to two different types of coronaviruses at the same time. The data shows that this is spreading about 10% faster than BA.2 in the UK.

According to the latest data from the ONS, Covid-related deaths in England have risen to their highest level since February.

There were more deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate in the seven days leading up to March 25. Several weeks ago deaths appeared to have leveled off.

The Omicron BA.2 variant has been driving the rise in coronaviruses across the UK. According to the ONS figures, almost 5 million people had Covid in the week to 26 March. The increase may be having an impact on the number of deaths that lag behind infections.

It's important to keep Covid in the headlines.

The death toll is the highest since February when It is below the peak of the second wave of coronaviruses in the week to 29 January 2021.

According to the ONS, 190,053 deaths have been recorded in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. The number of people in hospital in the UK with coronaviruses is close to the total reached at the start of the year but is still far below the 2014–2018 2014–2018.

The success of the vaccine programme is reflected in the low number of deaths and hospitalisations. A fourth dose of vaccine is being offered to people with weakened immune systems.

The last figures to be published by the study group will be Wednesday's React-1 figures. It has played a key role in tracking the spread of Covid-19 infections in the community and will continue to do so.

The study gave very rapid, real-time information that we tried to report very quickly to the public, as well as to the press.

There will be a loss. I am very hopeful that the ONS study will continue to show that we are ahead of other countries in terms of population level surveillance.